IVF with PGD

Welcome to IVF with PGD forum. This forum is for those that are undergoing IVF with Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis..

This forum provide a space to discuss the issues associated with undergoing IVF with PGD. Please keep the discussion relevant to the forum topic. If discussion becomes more general in nature you will be directed to the LT or LTTTC/AC general discussion threads.

Your Moderating/Admin team for this forum are as follows:

Sarah_H Admin
sushee Senior Moderator
Gargy Moderator
dusty Moderator

To contact any of the above, please see this post.

If you have any issues/problems with this forum feel free to email any of the above moderators who will be happy to assist you. All emails will be treated confidentially.

Just a reminder to all: all LTers love seeing a fellow LTer achieve that longed-for BFP, and we all find hope in one of our own having success in this difficult journey. But please remember that there are those who cycled with you who may not have received good news at the end of their cycle. Please do not post baby/child/pg tickers or pg related signatures (eg blinking BFP icons) etc in this forum out of respect for them.

As it's easy to forget to remove your ticker, please be advised that we will remove it for you if it's posted in here. Just easier, is all.

The last thread is here.

Hi Girls. WOW - we've graduated to our very own sticky :D Looking forward to sharing your PGD experiences. I really think there is a need for this thread as we are dealing with some separate issues on top of the fact we are LTTTC (some of us secondary infertility) and TTC after the heartbreak of MC.

After learning about Lisa's two Trisomy 15's and the fact my last MC was a T15, I have just spoken with a PGD scientist and they are now running the extra test :dance: So 8 tests all up. She was actually surprised, given my history, that this had not already been offered :o

WTH x

I just want to say thank you to the wonderful mods who have given you this thread... even though I never actually graduated to PGD, I have seen very clearly that the experience of the women in here is so very different to regular IVF, even different to those who get stuck doing IVF for a long time...

Meredith, I just can't believe all the medications they have for you this time - sounds like they are leaving no stone unturned and covering all bases as well. Are you doing prednisone as well? I can't remember.

WTH - a great indication of why it's important to find people going through the same sort of thing as yourself. Surprising that the clinic didn't think of it given your T15 history, but at least it was caught in time.

Still cheering from the sidelines... I'll just be a little more vocal about it now that I know how much it is appreciated!

BW

BW - good point. If it was not for the support and information sharing on this PGD-related thread, it would not have occured to me to ask for the extra test!

Oh yey! our very own thread!!Thankyou, thankyou. This whole thread and wonderful group off ladies has come at just the right time for so many of us. When I first started considering PGD, I couldn't find any "personal experience" type threads anywhere. Its just not enough sometimes to read all the technical info.

BW - yep, tis is my "no regrets" cycle so we are defnitely throwing everything at it. I just can't face another m/c without tinking i have done everything possible. Pred is part of the protocol - just started this morning. Hoping not to have to many side effects
I will also be on clexane from a few days prior to ET.
Also on one other pessary medication Just won't name it here. I could be rattling and going nuts by the end of all this!!

WTH - So glad you got T15 added. I was wondering myself why it wasn't in your screen. I know the chances of getting t15 again is probably slim but still has given me some reassurance as well to know is neing tested. My clinic automatically does the 8 screen but just goes to show how imprtant it is to be informed and to ask!
How are your embies going today?

Meredith, I know we've talked about the prednisone side effects before... mainly looking at weight gain, with some effects on moods (in high doses I'd get irritable and aggressive). I also find that it makes muscle cramps worse (it does reduce calcium absorption, my rheumy has me on supplements for it, and I'm needing heaps to reduce the pregnancy muscle cramps!), it sends blood sugar levels haywire and Deb has mentioned it reducing skin elasticity... But, it doesn't mean you'll definitely have problems with those things. I'm still on 5mg per day now, and at nearly 32 weeks I've only gained about 6kg since the start of the pregnancy, and getting very low BSL results on GTTs and haven't got a single stretch mark yet! I also know that having been on it for a long time (and generally at lower doses) I've got very used to it and low-dose prednisone has pretty much become my natural state. It was much harder when I first started taking it, particularly with the moods.

Bell rang, gotta go...

BW

Woo hoo, we've got a new thread! Thanks Dusty (sushee and Gargy)!

Meredith, glad you've got all your meds, you must be very good with multitasking with so many things to remember. When are you starting on FSH? My cramps have gone :rolleyes: so who knows when AF will be here...so don't know when to start FSH yet.

Sara, hope the b/t result is all good and you've got AF and ready to start soon.

WTH, yeah, tell us the embie result! Glad an extra test is added!

Ok, have to go and do some real work....

:clap: WTH: you've started something here - our very own thread - thank you Dusty!
Hope your embies are doing well. Great they put on the extra test for you - wondering if you talked to the same scientist I talked the day before yesterday, she seems to make a lot of sense.

Cuddlepie: my cramps stopped 1/2 day before AF started - had much worse cramps this time than usually, didn't realise they were premenstrual cramps and actually thought they were a side effect of the meds - so hopefully AF is on the way for you too. Keeping fingers crossed for your appointment tomorrow.

Meredith: you must be very organised, between Folate, Pregnancy supplement and injections I have definitely enough to think about, couldn't manage to take other things as well - what is the prednisone for? When did you start on Puregon?

BW - it's great having you here.

AFM BT result just came through and everything seems to be on track despite the trouble with my first Lucrin injection so joining Meredith on the FSH on Friday, my first BT is Monday morning. I am starting on 262.5 Puregon. The needle doesn't look to bad, will report back once I've used it ;)

Tonight another acupuncture appointment really looking forward to it as I have a bad headache.

Have a great day everyone!

Sara

To all who have asked.... started puregon 200iu tonight. I do't think the neddle is bad at all but maybe I'm just used to it. Even though IVF as such is new to me,this is my 8th puregon cycle!!!I also have to take pregnyl at low dose every second day so the puregon is nothing compared to that .Nor clexane injections for that matter - they are the worst. Blunt needle and bad bruising at injection sites!!

Can't remember who aksed but the prednisolone is to hopefully reduce my risk of m/c. in simple terms, there is a theory that I have an overactive immune system possibly attacking my babies hence the prednisolone to supress my immune system. If I do fall pg, I would be on it until 20weeks.
The Clexane (a blood thinner) is for similar reasons. I have used the clexane for 3 of my pregnancies (including my one and only success) but the pred is new this time around.

BW - thanks for the info re pred side effects. I'm feeling cranky and irritable already but think its anxiety related! I'm going to be on so many meds, I don't think I'll be able to tel where the side effects are coming from.

Girls, it's not looking good.

Got the call at 9am to be told my best embryo is not ready for testing. There is now only a 50/50 chance it will even be biopsied, either this afternoon or tomorrow morning. The other two that were on track on Day 3 are now a day behind, ie: Day 4 compacting stage on Day 5 today. I have been told there is only a "very slim chance" that they will be biopsied. The fourth one has run out of gas. I may also have to face the possibility of transferring an untested embryo tomorrow. I know DH would want to do this if we are given the choice...

It blows my mind that three of these would normally be considered suitable for transfer just two days ago. Feeling pretty blue about my egg quality. I really wanted to get some tested so we would at least we would know what we are facing. I even asked if I should be considering egg donation and it was recommended I try three cycles of PGD first.

If this falls through in the next 24 hours will book in to see my FS ASAP and beg to go on DHEA (believed to improve egg quality and egg numbers). It takes a few cycles to work, but there is not time to get started like the present.

WTH,
big hug - it is such a horrid roller-coaster ride at times.
Kate

WTh: just wanted to send you a hug. :grouphug:

Really hope that things will still work out.

Sara

WTH, sorry to hear that things are not looking good...can you still get a transfer without the biopsy? I know it is kind of defeat the initial purpose, but after all the meds and efforts you put in, its just a bit disheartening if none is transferred. Its truely a scary road that we all have to deal with....I hope the two behind will have miracle whim to catch up though....big hugs.

WTH - I'm sorry things aren't looking so good. I hope they explore all options with you. What is DHEA? and what do they look for before prescribing (meaning why don't they give it to all women over a certain age etc?)

Kate, Sara, Cuddlepie and Buliej - thanks. I could really use a hug (or ten) today. It is not completely over yet.

Cuddlepie - yes, it was mentioned I may have the option tomorrow of transferring tomorrow. I don't even want to get my hopes up about that. Just keeping on :pray: the cells continue to divide. The two that are a day behind have been downgraded to "poor", but I think BW told me her growing bubba came from an embryo ranked poor. DH will be with me when I take the next call this afternoon, which will help. Just want to hear the blast has done a backflip and either has a better cell mass or better outer layer (the reason they have held back on PGD testing is because of delay in one or the other).

Buliej - I noticed you have also joined the TTC after MC thread. I am so sorry you have had to go there (though the girls are absolutely wonderful). From my fairly unscientific understanding thus far, DHEA is getting a lot of hype in the US but it is not supported by the FDA here (please anyone correct me if I am wrong). It is an androgen - a testosterone. Only some Australian FS are using it, and you have to take it for at least four months before it starts improving egg quality and numbers in IVF cycles. It is even thought to reduce chromosonal abnormalities (hence my interest). I have also heard Luveris used during an IVF cycle may take more embryos to blast stage. I will also be running that by my FS and will report my findings back here.

Thanks so much WTH. I'm going to research this DHEA thing and also ask my FS about it. I noticed that we are from different states thus I'm certain we don't use the same clinic (or FS) but I am hoping that my FS has an open mind. I was thinking about how to explain this to her...not the DHEA but my dependence on her willing to push boundaries (safely - of course).

I wonder if FS generally understand that they have more control than we do over something that we want more than anything in the world (acknowledging that to some extent things are out of anyone's control) and if they wanted something more than anything in the world, but were completely dependent on someone else to help bring that desire to fruition, imagine how much they'd want to know that this person on whom they are dependent was doing absolutely everything they could to give it the best chance of happening.

I assume if DHEA is an option, and from my quick read of articles, you do need to wait 4 months to see results, you can still try naturally during the waiting time - and perhaps the normal single egg that gets released will get lucky!!

off to do more research (and I'm now so busy at work)

WTH - Oh man, this is such a scary ride. Praying your "good" emby still makes it to testing. I can understand your disapointment if you have been through all this and not even get some results. I think you are sounding very brave about it really.
I guess that is the added risk to doing biopsy on day 5. Monash test only on day 3 so the accuracy is not as good but maybe thats why they do it... so at least some get to biopsy stage?
I had always assumed they then let them go on to day 5 prior to transfer but when I met with my nurse the other day, she talked about day 4 transfer. Not sure who makes that decision... on my list of questions!
In your shoes I think I would still transfer an untested emby if it looked ok tomorrow but then I know the stress that will come with an ensueing pg. is your head ready to explode with all the options/what ifs???
BTW - Interesting stats re Luveris. Don't quite understand that one cos Luveris is just LH. I need it because have very low natural levels and won't get E2 rises without. The Luveris is VERY expensive though so I am just on Pregnyl (HCG) instead. Does the same thing.

Will be praying you get better news this arvo

WTH: I am so glad that you have asked for the extra test, if something good can come of my bad luck then it helps. We talked about donor eggs but DH said that if the baby wasn't 1/2 me he was interested. Hang in there sweetie, I know exactly how you are feeling :comfort:

Meredith,
At Melbourne I had EPU on Saturday, biopsy and testing on Tuesday, and transfer Tuesday night - I think that once they knew it was a "good" emby they wanted to get it back in ASAP

All the best
Kate

*** a quick newsflash ***
:dance: ONE OF MY EMBYS HAS MADE IT TO TESTING :dance:

WTH - Yipee! Great news. Praying its a good one!

WTH - that's great - I hope it continues to go well

WTH that's great - keeping fingers crossed.

So relieved and happy for you WTH for the good tough embie! :dance: So when are you getting the biopsy result? I am praying really hard for you it will be a super embie and ready to transfer back!!!

AFM, just back from FS's appt and finally got DH's second SCSA result, it was down from 30% to 10% :D so now he is in 'excellent range', we are both stunned that how much antioxidant and some fruit juice can do. So I would recommend anyone to keep on the Menevit and Vitamins, even for pre-caution.

FS recommended to still do IVF for this cycle given DH's result improved this much, he said because we had good fertilization rate, there is no need to stress the embies out by doing ICSI. So now its really up to the eggs to do their part, go me! He wants to see how many blasties I get from this cycle and whether its worthwhile to do PGD or not down the track. So seems that we will be going for a straight IVF this cycle.

Now the frustrating part is, AF is still not here and it is my D30 now. I so wish it could turn up today or tomorrow so I don't have to do Lucrin for another week. Headache is here, so I am hoping thats a sign.

Hope you all have a great evening!

WTH - I am so happy for you xxx

Cuddlepie: Down to 10%, that's amazing, you must be so happy! :hooray:
Hope AF shows up soon would be nice if we could start FSH together.

WTH: Praying everything goes well for you today.

Meredith: How are you going?

AFM Had a bad sinus headache for the last few days but otherwise doing well apart from being irritable - poor DP had to feel the brunt of it :-(

Sara

WTH, I am thinking of you and hope all went well today!

Sara, sorry to hear you are having a sinus headache, did AP yesterday help? They usually quite good at easing it...hope you will feel better soon. Saw your signature starting FSH today, YAY! All ok?

I know, I am so excited about DH's result, jumping up and down (not literally but almost), now DH is nagging me about daily fresh juice supply and I am being his slave...:D Had my b/t this morning and AP as well, nurse just called to say that AF should be a day or two away, so I should be starting maybe 2/3 days behind you? I am following hunny.

Meredith, Lisa, a big :hello:

Cuddlepie, that's absolutely amazing news! I may have to do that with DH when we're thinking of #2 to see if we can fix his dodgy sperm and see if we can maybe go naturally if our embryos don't defrost. I seriously doubt I'd go through another stim cycle now.

I can't get over the improvement and how quick it was!

BW

Thanks BW, yeah, we were both stunned. DH is as happy as he gets HD for his exam result :p

I think its definitely worth a try giving DH Mevevit even just 3 months leading up to TTC #2...the good thing about sperms is they are renewable... I think this time around the morphology score also improved from 2% to 3%...

WTH - We are all thinking of you.Where are you? Praying you got some good results today and that you are resting after ET.

CP - great news re your DH's SCSA result. What a turn around!!!! Must give you a confidence boost heading into this cycle. Hoping AF here very soon so you can get stuck into it all

Sara - How did you go with your first FSH dose? We are going to be tagging each other very closely. lets hope with CP included we can get a hatrick within a few days of each other!!

First scan for me today although fairly pointless given I had only had 2 days of FSH. Guess they just play it cautious with antagonist cycle as they need to make sure antagoinst started early enough.
Had a total of 31follies although all very small. Largest being only 7 and 8 mm. So really impossible to tell what sort of no's i'll be looking at. E2 was 384 which is good for me at this early stage. Patches and the pregnyl must be doing the trick so far. Next scan Mon so maybe more of an idea by then

Meredith: 31 follicles! I am not tracking with you - that's the largest number ever! Brilliant. Keeping fingers crossed the next scan shows them growing. What is E2?

Cuddlepie: Still can't believe how good your DH's SCSA went - what exactly apart from Menevit did you guys do?

WTH: hope everything went fine for you, thinking of you.

Lisa & Buliej : Hope you're well today.

AFM - First FSH yesterday, was very nervous about it especially as the nurse got it wrong and went very fast when she explained the pen to me. So got a girlfriend to sit with me and we read through the instructions together (DP was out of town). There was no pain at all when I did the injection. First BT on Monday. No idea when the first scan will be.
Have some problems with my belly (cramps) so trying Good Health bacteria which seems to help.
BW - thank you so much for the tip with the exhaling, it is so much better.
Kate: thankfully no nightmares so far.

Wishing you all a great weekend,

Sara

Hi everyone :D. Great news - that one little blast not only made it to biopsy but is (hopefully) nestling in comfortably inside my body :dance: Yesterday was anxious and hectic. At 9am I got the call to be told there were still no results through on the first five screens and that I would hear back at 10.30. Unfortunately my other two hopefuls did not make it past compacting. The next call came - all clear. It was explained to us we would not have the result back for the next three screens until 12.30 so we would actually have to start driving to Sydney 1/2 an hour before we even knew if we would be doing a transfer. I actually had a bad feeling about the next three. But all was well ;) Not only that but my embryo was growing at a very rapid rate and they had to get it in me fast! It had also completely hatched. The embryologist said it was the largest embryo she'd seen before transfer and they had to find a larger pipette. I am hoping that it has not gone in too late :pray: By 6pm I was back in town on my accupuncturist's table. It was suggested implantation might happen today. Any tips anyone? I just need our little one to STICK STICK STICK :crossfingers: Blood test Dec 1 so not long to wait, really. Thanks to you all for your comments, especially when I was MIA yesterday.

Cuddlepie - I am thrilled about DH's swimmers and that you will not need to have to go through PGD this cycle. WOW - Your DH is a walking advertisement for Menevit!!

Sara - congratulations on managing your first FSH injection. I had built it up in my head to be painful. It was more painful figuring out how to use the pen, but you will find it a cinch from here on.

Meredith - that is an incredible first scan. Well done, hon'! Are you on estrogen patches? If so, is that called "estrogen priming"? I am asking as I have have been having an estrogen dip in my natural cycle and I am wondering if I could use patches in between IVF cycles (if this one does not stick).

LisaK - thanks for being so thoughtful and supporting me :hug:

Buliej - about the DHEA, you mentioned you can try it while trying naturally as it takes four months to work. Do you know if it can be used during an IVF cycle, say, the second month or does it clash somehow with the stims???

Way to go WTH! Cheering you on from the side lines here (and all you lovely ladies too). So pleased to hear you got to this stage. Fingers crossed.

xx

Thanks, Dusty. I having been following your ttc journey since I joined BB and have been :crossfingers: for you, too. It's great to have you cheering.

I have actually visited the 2WW thread (something I could only dream about a couple of days ago). I had no idea how difficult this whole IVF business is. The scientist suggested I have a 28-30% chance, given my history, so I have a long way to go.

I haven't had the chance to really look into DHEA - I've printed out some stuff to read and have also book marked some other web sites to go back to. I had to re-focus on work this week as I was falling too far behind. Hopefully I will find some time to look at this stuff next week.

WTH, :leap: You are PUPO! (Pregnant Unless Proven Otherwise, the phrase I learned from Dusty's TTC thread :D) Sending tons of :stickyvibesboy::stickyvibesgirl: vibes. Also drink some pineapple juice especially the core. I heard that they say it helps with implantation. If you have a juicer, freshly squeezed one is the best. 1 cup a day don't over do it. I am super excited for you.

Sarah, DH just followed FS's instruction, I think its Vitamin C (500mg x 2), Vitamin E (400mcg x 2 per day) and Folic (500mch x 1 per day). So he just took Menevit plus what else he needs to make up for the dosage, as Menevit doesn't have required the amount. We bought the juice fountain the weekend after the 1st result and have a glass of fresh squeezed juice everyday. Now we just can't drink the bottled/carton juice from supermarket anymore. ;) DH also limited his coffee and beer intake but we do have red wine sometimes. I heard Pinot Nior has the most antioxidant, so let's drink to that. :D

Meredith, 31 follicles sounds incredible and that is only the first scan. You are doing so well. 7mm is not bad at all for the 1st scan. You are leading the way hun, Sara and I will follow....:dance:

No news for me, just waiting for AF...a bit headache but I will enjoy the weekend not to think too much.

Have a good one ladies!

Cuddlepie - hey there. So that is what a "PUPO" is. I like it :D I have been eating slices of fresh pineapple (at room temperature - as I have heard in Chinese med they recommend no cold foods). But I do not know how much to have! Any suggestions? Please feel free to send any other tips my way. Desperate to implant!!!

:clap:
WTH - that's absolutely excellent news, well done!

Sending lots of sticky vibes your way. :stickyvibesgirl::stickyvibesboy:

Sara

WTH - Oh yay yay ,yay!!! I figured you must have had a full day given we hadn't seen you pop in.
Guess the IVF itself was worthwhile just to "weed" out that one good embie. The PGD just tops it off so you have confirmation of a hopefully "normal" embie. I am crossing everything that you little one is doing its job and nestling in there.
I am on E2 patches purely because my lining is often quite poor. I have been on Progynova (oral E2) in previous cycles but didn't seem to make huge difference so trialling patches for the first time.
Was really to early to tell much at Firday's scan but hoping it is doing the trick!

Sara - glad your first FSH dose went ok. It does get much easier once you've used the pen a few times. E2 is oestrogen.
31 follies may sound a lot but is not unsual for me to have a lot just "hanging" around so to speak.
Even on my IUI cycles I would often have 16-20 total number of follies but only 1-3 that became mature.
Really have no idea how many will go on to develop

CP - here's hoping AF is here soon so ou can start jabbing with us!

Me - just plodding on, having to keep a chart of all my meds to make sure I do them ALL each day.
Feeling a bit "off" and headachey but goodness knows which drug is the culprit!!

I am bored here, no AF :wall: yet...

Hey Meredith, just checked your album, Logan is such a beautiful boy! What a picture perfect family! You are one lucky woman, well, I am sure No.2 will join you soon hun!

Night night everyone! I will be dreaming me bleeding! hehe...